The Beauty

"The Beauty" by Mrs. Wilson Woodrow is a story set in the early 1900s about Perdita Carey, a breathtakingly beautiful woman, who marries the rich and powerful Cresswell Hepworth. The book explores what society expects from people, what people want for themselves, and if money can really make a person happy. The story starts with Perdita and Cresswell's wedding, and everyone wonders about the bride. Perdita might be beautiful, but the guests don't know much about her, and they aren't sure how they feel about her marrying this wealthy man. As the story continues, we learn that Perdita is struggling with her new life and what she really wants, especially since she used to know an artist named Eugene Gresham. Perdita is torn between the easy life that wealth can bring and the more difficult path to passion and independence.